NOOB - Lessons Learned

[winterh]

I finally got to use my PC and polish my truck yesterday (black paint).



I had quite a few swirls and after washing and claying, began to polish.



I used the recommendations from folks here. Starting with the least aggressive and working my way up.



I noticed that the swirls were not coming out so I finally ended up using SSR 2.5 and a Green Sonus Cutting Pad. Once the swirls were out, I went back down to SSR 2 and then SSR 1. To my horror, I found millions of little scratches (marring?) in my clear coat and couldn't seem to get them out.



I finally did correct the problem by re-reading the directions for the polish (duh) and by taking my time.



I figured out 2 things:

a. I was going to quickly over the surface with the PC

b. I was not allowing the polish to work correctly. You really need to work it until it dusts.



Mentally, I was thinking that I should be working the PC quickly and stopping when the pad seemed to run out of product. Wrong!



It took me half the day to figure all of this out. (Maybe I'm slow)



The paint now looks awesome. I don't think I've ever seen a polished black car before (closely).



Just wanted to share my lesson learned.

 

[cwcad]

thanks for the information. they are good points to ponder.



have a blacdk truck that i am going to go over and get all the swiorls and marring that i have produced from way to much time wiping the surface with a whole host of things.



your thread has reminded me that i must take my time to do the whole process and let the machine and the product do the work.



thanks

 

[JeffM]

With DACP i can see it turn kinda translucent, thats when i prepare to stop polishing, a few more passes then wipe off.



Never used 2.5 though, but ya, you have to A: make sure you use enough polish, not like a LSP, and B: work it until it breaks down.